With Wuthering Heights set to premiere worldwide on February 13–14, 2026, anticipation is at an all-time high for Emerald Fennell’s daring new adaptation of Emily Brontë’s classic novel — and the actors starring in the film have been speaking candidly about what makes this version unlike anything you’ve seen before.
Margot Robbie on Love, Obsession, and Cathy Earnshaw
At the center of the film is Margot Robbie as Catherine “Cathy” Earnshaw, and she’s made it clear this isn’t a safe, picture-perfect romance. Robbie has described the story as an intense, emotional love story that’s more romantic and visceral than purely provocative — even as expectations run high for how passion and desire are portrayed on screen.
Robbie also acknowledged that the casting choices — particularly that of her co-star — have sparked debate among fans of the novel. But she has urged audiences to “trust me, you’ll be happy”, encouraging viewers to withhold judgment until they’ve seen the finished film.
She praised the depth and magnetism of Wuthering Heights’ script and the emotional range demanded by the role, saying that exploring Cathy’s complex psyche was part of what attracted her to the project.
“Our Generation’s Daniel Day-Lewis” — Robbie on Jacob Elordi
One of the most talked-about elements of this adaptation is the casting of Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, a role that has historically been one of British literature’s most intense and haunting leading men.
Robbie has been effusive in her praise of Elordi, suggesting he embodies Heathcliff in a way that few actors have since the character’s earliest screen incarnations. “I honestly think he’s our generation’s Daniel Day-Lewis,” she said, placing Elordi in the lineage of iconic actors who’ve tackled the part.
Beyond the hyperbole of Hollywood praise, Robbie spoke sincerely about Elordi’s commitment and how well he captures Heathcliff’s raw emotional core — a man torn between savage devotion and bitter vengeance.
The Director’s Vision: Big Ambitions and Emotional Ferocity
Director Emerald Fennell — already known for her provocative work on Promising Young Woman and Saltburn — has described Wuthering Heights as a deeply personal project. She’s openly called the novel “primal” and fiercely emotional, explaining that adapting it was both terrifying and irresistible.
Fennell has also defended her casting decisions (including Robbie and Elordi) by emphasizing that she wasn’t trying to make a literal page-by-page period remake. Instead, Wuthering Heights is intended as a bold cinematic experience that channels the spirit of the book — its cruelty, its obsession, and its haunting intensity.
She even revealed that Elordi was a major inspiration for her decision to bring this story to the screen, citing his presence and performance style as fitting her early vision of Heathcliff.
From Backlash to Belief
Not surprisingly, some responses to casting choices and stylistic direction have been mixed among fans — especially around the interpretation of Heathcliff’s character and ethnicity as described in Brontë’s original novel.
But the cast and director remain unshaken. Robbie insists the film’s emotional power and sweeping romance transcend any early controversy, and Elordi has echoed that the story’s beauty and intensity are unmatched.
A Romance With Teeth
From Robbie’s description of Wuthering Heights as a narrative that will make audiences feel as though they’ve been “punched in the chest,” to the fierce loyalty between its co-stars off screen, this adaptation aims to be not just a film you watch — but an experience you feel.
With its combination of provocative direction, ambitious performances, and emotional depth, Wuthering Heights (2026) looks poised to be one of the most talked-about films of the year — a dark, passionate epic that might well redefine cinematic romance for a new generation.